What did I learn today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

   “ Let’s keep reminding each other: our stories survive because we continue to tell them. Period.” Ava DuVernay  Reading that Ava quote, It felt like a whisper from my grandmother’s kitchen.. Not because it was new, but because it was familiar. It reminded me of something I had always known but had, somewhere along the way, tucked into the back pocket of life’s busyness: I am a storyteller. I come from storytellers. And stories are how we survive. I grew up in the presence of voices that painted worlds. Women who could turn a simple pot of soup into a parable. Elders who didn’t just recount events—they passed on wisdom, encoded in laughter, caution, and grace. I learned how to listen before I learned how to speak. And when I finally spoke, I realized I was echoing generations. But life, as it does, got loud. Got fast. Got practical. And somewhere in the shuffle of building programs, shaping policy, and navigating transitions, I forgot that storytelling wasn’t just a to...

Part of courage is simple consistency - Peggy Noonan   I started going to a boxing class. Five days a week. It’s intense. The kind of intense that makes you question your life choices mid-combination. I struggle—let’s be clear. Compared to the other participants, I’m often behind. My feet don’t always follow the rhythm, and the fitness tests? Let’s just say they test more than my fitness. But I show up. Every day, I hear my name echoing through the gym. “More power on those bags, Akosua!” “More speed, Akosua!” “Akosua, Akosua!” Sometimes I smile in annoyance, thinking, Can’t he see I’m flat out and ready to faint? But I keep punching. I keep moving. I keep showing up. Last week, after a group session, the trainer said, “I want to give a prize for the most consistent boxer here. Rain or shine, I know this person will show up. Y’all be like Akosua.” Me? I was shocked. Pleasantly surprised. A little embarrassed. I didn’t win for speed or strength or technique. I won for consistency. O...

  "Your whole life is a manifestation of the thoughts that go on in your head." - Lisa Nichols  Rev Deborah L Johnson , one of my favorite spiritual teachers, says  that one of our most sacred responsibilities is to mind our mind—to be consciously aware of our thoughts and how we choose to direct that energy. It’s a call to presence, to stewardship of the unseen currents that shape our lives. Because whether we notice it or not, our thoughts are always making an imprint. They ripple outward, forming the architecture of our reality. How many times do we realize that the thoughts we place the most energy on, manifests itself into reality - whether we want it or not?  So why do we not pay attention? Why do we allow our thoughts to run unchecked, as if they were background noise rather than the blueprint of our becoming? I believe in the energy. I believe that what we think and say is where we are living. Our thoughts are not passive—they are generative. They are the qu...

  “ When you abandon yourself to please others, you teach the world that your truth is negotiable.” — Unknown There are moments when the world aligns in such a way that it feels like a whisper from the universe—a gentle nudge to pay attention. Today, the beach offered me one of those moments. The fishermen were already out on their boats when I arrived, casting nets, pulling ropes, calling out to one another in words I couldn’t understand but whose meaning was clear: Here, take this. I’ve got you. Let’s work together. There was grace in their labor, a kind of poetry in the way they bent and lifted, in the way the sea accepted their efforts without complaint. And then—just above them—a rainbow, as if placed there just for them. For a moment, I stood frozen, struck by the sheer beauty of it: these men, doing the most ordinary of work, bathed in something extraordinary. How Many Rainbows Do We Miss? How often do we rush through our days without seeing the magic woven into the mundane?...

 Rather than think about what you have to do to change a situation, consider what the situation might be doing to change you. How it might be seasoning and transforming and growing you. You are not responsible for everything and everyone. Allow that as a possibility. Jessica Dore There are some situations that don’t come into your life to stay. They show up like quiet teachers, nudging you to shift, stretch, evolve. They whisper of change, even when you’re desperately clinging to what’s familiar. You say you want to grow—but are you ready to release? You say you long for transformation—but have you made peace with the discomfort of the unknown? Let’s be honest: loss is terrifying. We grieve even the things we no longer want. The familiar, no matter how confining, wraps itself around us like family. It becomes our safety net, our story, our shield. But maybe it’s time to redefine “lose.” What If Loss Is Just a Beginning? I don’t say I lost my house anymore. I don’t say I lost my ma...

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ” –Albert Einstein Yesterday, the Nina ladies took on a short but spirited hike to the breathtaking Zorro Falls. What began as a physical challenge quickly unfolded into a living classroom—one where nature, uncertainty, and sisterhood taught us more than any indoor session could . We use these outdoor journeys as practical learning spaces: to explore how we navigate challenges, embrace uncertainty, and show up for one another with both strength and softness. And this hike delivered all of that—with a splash of fun and a whole lot of heart. There were moments that tested us: slippery rocks, steep climbs, and the rope-assisted ascent up the falls—the easiest way up, but still no small feat. What stood out most was the cheering. The genuine, soul-deep encouragement that echoed through the trees as each woman tackled the terrain. It was a reminder that support isn’t just about lending a hand—it’s about believing in eac...